Discover Cornac

Cornac offers several different perspectives to consider when planning a trip: its woodland and river landscape, the history of its fortified village, and the Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs. There is also a Tèrra-Aventura treasure hunt on foot, as well as seasonal tours and tours available on request. If you’re looking for a hotel in Cornac, you can start by considering whether you’d like to focus your trip on the landscape, local history or a particular type of visit.

Woodland, the Mamoul and the fortified village

Most of Cornac is covered in woodland. Meadows and pastures break up the forest on the slopes. The Mamoul, a tributary of the Dordogne, emerges from picturesque gorges into the Cornac plain, where it divides into several branches. The landscape thus brings together different features: open areas on the slopes and a river that flows from the gorges into the plain and branches out there.

The medieval fortified village is also part of the local landscape. Around thirty families lived close together there around the church; the settlement had two gates, fortified perimeter walls and ditches. The approximate number of families gives an idea of the community at the time, while the gates, walls and ditches describe the village’s built form. Together, these details paint a picture of the settlement: a close-knit cluster around the church, surrounded by fortifications.

The Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs

The Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs dates from the 13th century. It stands on a nearby hill in the cemetery overlooking Cornac. The choir features superimposed trompe-l’œil decorations: a medieval design and a painted altarpiece from the 17th century. Trompe-l’œil refers to a painted design that creates the illusion of three-dimensional space or objects; the false altarpiece is a painted representation. The choir thus features two superimposed designs from different periods. The chapel’s location and painted decoration offer different points of interest: its place within the village and the dating of its decorative schemes.

Treasure hunt and routes

The Tèrra-Aventura treasure hunt in Cornac follows a walk several kilometres long. Riddles and a treasure hunt are a way to discover unusual places. The experience combines the route with challenges: it’s not just about following a set distance, but also solving the riddles and finding the treasure. Route details may change, so check them before setting out.

The fifth edition of La Cornacopia features hiking routes of 5, 12 and 18 km, as well as nature trail routes of 12, 18 and 30 km. The two categories overlap at 12 and 18 km. The longest listed nature trail route is 30 km; among the hiking routes, 18 km is the longest distance listed. This makes it possible to compare route types and distances without treating the two categories as the same offering.

Tours and glasswork

Les Amis de Cornac organise guided and theatrical tours in summer. Year-round, they offer tours for groups of four or more on request. The type of visit therefore depends on the time of year and the group size: alongside the summer tours, groups can arrange a visit at any time of year by making a request. Confirm your visit arrangements before travelling.

The Luminescence - Vitraux workshop works with leaded glass, the Tiffany technique and fusing. It offers a permanent exhibition and studio tours by appointment; reconfirm the appointment before your visit. The three techniques represent different approaches to glasswork, while the exhibition and studio tour are two different ways to visit.

Discover more destinations: Camburat, Assier, Montclera, Lacam-D'ourcet, Saux, Espedaillac, Prendeignes, Cahors

For the broader travel overview: Lot.